The priest sat still and heard her story through, The woman said: 66 But, father, 'twould be vain To try to gather up those seeds again; The winds have scattered them both far and wide, Mary E. C. Johnson. HATEM TOI. HATEM TOI possessed a mare, Sullah Beg the mare admired; All the greed of man could stir, Came reply: "I may not sell Sullah Beg, with anger hot, Hatem Toi a journey made From the friendly palm-tree's shade, Moving merrily, mile on mile, Quoth the stranger: "Pass, and leave To yon fertile plain below; Nay!" cried Hatem. "I am young: Thanked him then the stranger, and Off went wig and caftan straight, "Though no purchase gold may make, Strength retains what wit may take." "Stay!" replied the other, next. "Do not think me sorely vext. Thine the brute shall freely be Let no mortal ever wis How you gained her. Grant me this." "Ha!" said Sullah Beg and laughed. "For thy pardon low I bend, Thomas Dunn English. ONE OF THE HEROES. HARK! through the wild night's darkness rings out a terrible cry, And the woman shudders to hear it in the room up close to the sky; "Fire!" in accents of terror, and voices the cry repeat, And the fire-bells join in the clamor out in the stormy street. "God grant we are safe, my darling!" she says to the child in her arms, While the voices far down in the darkness add to the bell's alarms; Then she thinks of the two little children who are sleeping peacefully near, And "God pity the poople in danger," she adds with a thrill of fear. The voices ring louder and louder. She hears the swift tread of feet, And the sound of engines rumbling below in the stormy street. "It must be the fire is near us." She listens: a step on the stair; Then the door is flung wide, and beyond it she sees the red flames' glare. "Give me the child!" cries the fireman. "There's not a moment to spare!" The flames like a glittering serpent are writhing up the stair. "No, I will carry my baby!" and then she points to the bed Where the light from the hall shines brightly over a golden head. One little head on the pillow,-one only,-the fireman sees, With flossy curls stirring about it in the breath of the fiery breeze. |